Current Events

Arabic-speaking armies have been generally ineffective in the modern era. ... Why this unimpressive record? There are many factors — economic, ideological, technical — but perhaps the most important has to do with culture and certain societal attributes which inhibit Arabs from producing an effective military force. Some problems are: lack of leadership, hoarding of information, memorisation instead of reasoning, paranoia in the name of hierarchy, indifference to fellow human beings, trust in relatives only, and conformity as a major social virtue. 

On September 2, 1945, the Japanese representatives signed the official Instrument of Surrender, prepared by the War Department and approved by President Truman. It set out in eight short paragraphs the complete capitulation of Japan. ... [the] second paragraph went straight to the heart of the matter: We hereby proclaim the unconditional surrender to the Allied Powers of the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters and of all Japanese armed forces and all armed forces under Japanese control wherever situated.

Japan has become one of the wealthiest, most productive, and peaceful country on Earth. Will similar reversals of purpose and fortune take place in some Middle Eastern countries?